Curcuma plant named &#39;Curtina&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  curcuma  plant particularly distinguished by deep-purple flowers with red tips and green leaves with red veins is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Curcuma L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Curtina’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of curcuma, botanically known as Curcuma L., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Curtina’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in May 2001 in De Lier, The Netherlands. The female parent was the proprietary curcuma plant ‘1998248-03’ (unpatented), while the male parent was the proprietary curcuma plant ‘1998231-02’ (unpatented).

The new cultivar was created in 2001 and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by in vitro propagation in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and De Lier, The Netherlands over a two-year period. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied with the European Union on Aug. 10, 2004.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in De Lier, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) Deep purple flowers with red tips; and     -   2) Green leaves with red veins.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new curcuma plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 140-day old plant grown in a greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows the mature flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Curtina’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in De Lier, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 140-day old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 14-cm pots in 2005 and grown in a glass greenhouse between 19° C. and 28° C. Observations were made in the spring. Color readings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Zingiberaceae.         -   Botanical.— Curcuma L.         -   Common name.—Hidden Lily. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘1998248-03’, a proprietary             dark-pink-flowered curcuma plant (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘1998231-02’, a proprietary purpled-flowered             curcuma plant (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—10 days.         -   Root description.—RHS 155D, moderately free branching,             non-fibrous, slightly fleshy.         -   Average number of rhizomes (per plant).—6.         -   Rhizome diameter.—0.5 cm. -   Plant:     -   -   Form/Growth.—Rhizotomatous herbaceous perennial, shoots grow             from the base.         -   Habit.—Broad, upright with arching leaves.         -   Height (measured from the soil).—46.8 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—42.6 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—15-weeks for a             10 cm to 15-cm pot.         -   Keeping quality.—28 days. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Lorate.         -   Size.—Length (fully expanded): 50.0 cm Width: 3.6 cm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Sheathing, winged; average length of wing is 10.1 cm.         -   Aspect.—Arching.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B to RHS 137C Lower surface:             RHS 137B.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Venation.—Type: Parallel Color: Main vein: RHS 166A to RHS             183A Secondary veins: RHS 137B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Spring.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—3 days.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme.         -   Arrangement.—Terminal racemes grow from the centers of the             shoots.         -   Size.—Length: 13.4 cm Diameter: 5.9 cm. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowers.—Size: Length: 2.9 cm Width: 1.8 cm Shape: Irregular             corolla consisting of three petals, one of which is             conspicuous and colorful, flanked by a smaller petal on each             side; opposite the large petal is a small labellum             consisting of two fused stamen Color: Upper petal: Upper             surface: Darker than RHS 83A while the base is slightly             lighter Lower surface: RHS 83A while the base is lighter             Lateral and lower petals: Upper surface: RHS 85A to RHS 85B             while the base is RHS 155B Lower surface: RHS 85A to RHS 85B             while the base is RHS 155B.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: 14 Shape: Upper bracts: Broadly             ovate Lower bracts: Reniform to orbicular Apex: Rounded             Base: Fused Margin: Entire Texture: Smooth, glossy Size:             Length: 5.4 cm; the lower bracts are 3.6 cm Width: 4.1 cm             Color: Upper surface: RHS 71 B to RHS 71 C; the tip is RHS             N79B; the base is slightly tinged with RHS 147C             (yellow-green); the lower bracts are RHS 144B with an RHS             183B to RHS 183C (greyed-purple) upper half Lower surface:             RHS 71C to RHS 72A; the tip is RHS N79B; the base is             slightly tinged with RHS147C (yellow-green); the lower             bracts are RHS 144A with RHS 183C (greyed-purple) tips.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 137A Length: 34.6 cm Diameter: 0.5 cm             Texture: Smooth, rounded, slightly glossy Angle: Vertical             (90°). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 2, petaloid, fertile Filament: Length:             1.4 cm Diameter: 0.4 cm Color: RHS 85D; tip is darker, RHS             86A Anther color: RHS 155D Pollen: Absent.         -   Pistil.—Quantity: 1 Length: 2.0 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 1.9 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm Color: RHS N155A.         -   Stigma.—Length: 0.1 cm Diameter: 0.15 cm Color: RHS N155A. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed production has not been observed to date. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date. Similar to     other curcuma varieties.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Curtina’ differs from the female parent ‘1998248-03’ (unpatented), by having deep-purple flowers with red tips, while ‘1998248-03’ has dark-pink flowers with green tips.

‘Curtina’ differs from the male parent ‘1998231-02’ (unpatented), by having deep-purple flowers and green leaves with red veins, while ‘1998231-02’ has purple flowers and green leaves with no veins.

‘Curtina’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Curleno’ (unpatented), by having deep-purple flowers and green leaves with red veins, while ‘Curleno’ has pink-white flowers and green leaves with no veins. In addition, ‘Curtina’ has a long flower stem, while ‘Curleno’ has a medium flower stem. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of curcuma plant as shown and described herein. 